Lesson 4 God’s Special Agents: Angels
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Rev 12:11)
A. What are angels?
Angels are created spiritual beings with moral judgment and high intelligence, but without physical bodies.
1. Created spiritual beings
(Neh 9:6) The host of heaven refers to angels. They were created by God.
(2 Pet 2:4) Angels have moral judgment because some of them sinned and fell from their positions.
(Mat 28:5) They are intelligent as can be seen from their speech.
(Heb 1:14) Angels are spiritual creatures and do not ordinarily have physical bodies.
2. Rank and order among angels
(2 Pet 2:4) Angels have moral judgment because some of them sinned and fell from their positions.
(Mat 28:5) They are intelligent as can be seen from their speech.
(Heb 1:14) Angels are spiritual creatures and do not ordinarily have physical bodies.
2. Rank and order among angels
(Jude 9) One angel, Michael, is called an archangel, a title that indicates rule and authority over other angels.
(Rev 12:7-8) The archangel Michael is mentioned and appears to be a leader in the angelic army.
3. The power of angels
(Rev 12:7-8) The archangel Michael is mentioned and appears to be a leader in the angelic army.
3. The power of angels
Angels apparently have very great power.
(Ps 103:20) Angels are known as mighty ones.
(Col 1:16) Angels are known as “powers” and “authorities”.
B. The place of angels in God’s purpose
1. Angels show the greatness of God’s love and plan for us.
God created two groups of intelligent, moral creatures. Among the angels, many sinned but God decided to redeem none of them. This was perfectly just for God to do, and no angel can ever complain that he has been unfairly treated by God.
Now, among the other group of moral creatures, human beings, we also find that all have sinned and turned away from God. As with the angels that sinned, God could have let all of us go on our chosen path toward eternal condemnation. Had God decide to save no one out of the entire human race, he would be perfectly just to do so, and no one could complain of unfairness on his part. But God decided to do more than merely meet the demands of justice. He decided to redeem out of sinful mankind a great multitude whom no one can number, “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9). This demonstrates his incomprehensible mercy and love and grace. The striking contrast with the fate of angels brings this truth home to us
2. Angels remind us that the unseen world is real
(Ps 103:20) Angels are known as mighty ones.
(Col 1:16) Angels are known as “powers” and “authorities”.
B. The place of angels in God’s purpose
1. Angels show the greatness of God’s love and plan for us.
God created two groups of intelligent, moral creatures. Among the angels, many sinned but God decided to redeem none of them. This was perfectly just for God to do, and no angel can ever complain that he has been unfairly treated by God.
Now, among the other group of moral creatures, human beings, we also find that all have sinned and turned away from God. As with the angels that sinned, God could have let all of us go on our chosen path toward eternal condemnation. Had God decide to save no one out of the entire human race, he would be perfectly just to do so, and no one could complain of unfairness on his part. But God decided to do more than merely meet the demands of justice. He decided to redeem out of sinful mankind a great multitude whom no one can number, “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9). This demonstrates his incomprehensible mercy and love and grace. The striking contrast with the fate of angels brings this truth home to us
2. Angels remind us that the unseen world is real
(2 Kings 6:17) When the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, he saw a great angelic army.
3. Angels carry out some of God’s plans
(Like 1:11-19) An angel brings God’s message to Zechariah.
(2 Sam 24:16-17) An angel carries out God’s judgment , bringing a plague upon Israel.
(Dan 10:13) The archangel Michael wars against demonic forces.
4. Angels directly glorify God.
(Ps 103:20) Angels glorify God for who he is, for his excellence.
C. The origin of demons
Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.
(2 Pet 2:4) Demons are these angels who sinned and rebelled against God.
(Is 14:12-15) Possibly referring to the fall of Satan, the prince of demons. The sin of Satan is described as one of pride and attempting to be equal to God in status and authority.
D. Satan as head of the demons
(Job 1:6) Satan (meaning adversary) is the personal name of the head of the demons.
Other names for Satan are : devil(Mat 4:1) “the serpent”(Gen 3:1) Beelzebub(Mat 10:25) “the prince of this world”(John 12:31) “the ruler of the kingdom of the air”(Eph 2:2) “the evil one”(Matt 13:19)
E. The activity of Satan and demons
1. Satan was the originator of sin
Satan sinned before any human beings did. The devil’s characteristic has been to originate sin and tempt others to sin.
2. Demons oppose and try to destroy every work of God
Just as Satan tempted Eve to sin against God(Gen 3:1-6), so he tried to get Jesus to sin as thus fail in his mission as the Messiah(Matt 4:1-11). The tactics of Satan and his demons are to use lies(John 8:44), deception(Rev 12:9), murder(John 8:44)) and every other kind of destructive activity to cause people to turn away from God and to destroy themselves. They will try to blind people to the gospel(2 Cor 4:4) and keep them in bondage to things that hinder them from coming to God(Gal 4:8).
3. Yet demons are limited by God’s control and have limited power
The story of Job makes it clear that Satan could only do what God gave him permission to do and nothing more.(Job 1:12; 2:6). Demons are kept in “eternal chains”(Jude 6) and can be successfully resisted by Christians through the authority that Christ gives them(James 4:7). Moreover the power of demons is limited and weakened because of their sin. Their power is probably less than the power of angels.
F. Jesus gives believers authority to rebuke demons and command them to leave
The work of Christ on the cross is the ultimate basis for our authority over demons (Heb 2:14; Col 2:15; Rev 12:11).
Our position as children of God is the firm spiritual position from which we engage in spiritual warfare(Gal 3:26).
1 John 4:4 affirms that “…..he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
G. The destiny of Satan and the demons
3. Angels carry out some of God’s plans
(Like 1:11-19) An angel brings God’s message to Zechariah.
(2 Sam 24:16-17) An angel carries out God’s judgment , bringing a plague upon Israel.
(Dan 10:13) The archangel Michael wars against demonic forces.
4. Angels directly glorify God.
(Ps 103:20) Angels glorify God for who he is, for his excellence.
C. The origin of demons
Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.
(2 Pet 2:4) Demons are these angels who sinned and rebelled against God.
(Is 14:12-15) Possibly referring to the fall of Satan, the prince of demons. The sin of Satan is described as one of pride and attempting to be equal to God in status and authority.
D. Satan as head of the demons
(Job 1:6) Satan (meaning adversary) is the personal name of the head of the demons.
Other names for Satan are : devil(Mat 4:1) “the serpent”(Gen 3:1) Beelzebub(Mat 10:25) “the prince of this world”(John 12:31) “the ruler of the kingdom of the air”(Eph 2:2) “the evil one”(Matt 13:19)
E. The activity of Satan and demons
1. Satan was the originator of sin
Satan sinned before any human beings did. The devil’s characteristic has been to originate sin and tempt others to sin.
2. Demons oppose and try to destroy every work of God
Just as Satan tempted Eve to sin against God(Gen 3:1-6), so he tried to get Jesus to sin as thus fail in his mission as the Messiah(Matt 4:1-11). The tactics of Satan and his demons are to use lies(John 8:44), deception(Rev 12:9), murder(John 8:44)) and every other kind of destructive activity to cause people to turn away from God and to destroy themselves. They will try to blind people to the gospel(2 Cor 4:4) and keep them in bondage to things that hinder them from coming to God(Gal 4:8).
3. Yet demons are limited by God’s control and have limited power
The story of Job makes it clear that Satan could only do what God gave him permission to do and nothing more.(Job 1:12; 2:6). Demons are kept in “eternal chains”(Jude 6) and can be successfully resisted by Christians through the authority that Christ gives them(James 4:7). Moreover the power of demons is limited and weakened because of their sin. Their power is probably less than the power of angels.
F. Jesus gives believers authority to rebuke demons and command them to leave
The work of Christ on the cross is the ultimate basis for our authority over demons (Heb 2:14; Col 2:15; Rev 12:11).
Our position as children of God is the firm spiritual position from which we engage in spiritual warfare(Gal 3:26).
1 John 4:4 affirms that “…..he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
G. The destiny of Satan and the demons
(Rev 20:10) Satan will finally be thrown into the lake of burning sulphur to be tormented forever.
(Mat 25:41) Satan and his angels will burn in eternal fire which God has prepared for them.
Review questions
(Mat 25:41) Satan and his angels will burn in eternal fire which God has prepared for them.
Review questions
- How many angels are there?
- Are we higher or lower than angels in terms of our standing before God?
- It does seem that when people go to see fortune- tellers there are instances when the fortune-teller can tell people accurate details of their lives. How is this possible?
- Can a Christian be demon possessed?
- What conclusion can we draw from the following verses? Luke 9:1; Luke 10:17-20
No comments:
Post a Comment